Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-12
BILL NYE And The FOURTH.
HOW IT WAS CELEBRATED At WHALENS
GROVE LAST YEAR.

There were patriotic remarks and
greased-pig exercises at Whalen's
Grove last year on the Fourth, all of
which, according to the Sandy Mush
Record Statesman, passed of with
marked success From the opening
prayer to the base-ball' contest and
greasedpole doings. everything was
harmonious, aud the receipts were sat
isfactory. Col. l.. Forsyth Heeley act
ed as marshal of the day, wearing n
maroon sash and mounted on his we'll
known horse, Mambrino King. A Sc
rious accident in the early morning
was happily averted by Col. Heesley's
GOODNESS and self-possession. A lady
from Lower Hominy, whose name could
not be ascertained. while actively en-
gagged in listening to the band and
holding her young child so that it
could get good view of the sun, be.
came entangled in her train, which ad
worked around in front. and while re-
covering herself Col. l. Forsyth Hee-
lev came down the street in advance of
the fire laddes. The horse was rear
ing high in the air and going sidewise
with a screaking sound, which seemed
TO be caused by the friction between his
second and third stomach. His mouth
was wide open and his fiery-red gums
could be seen as far as the eye could
reach. Almost everyone thought there
would be a holocaust, but at that try
ing instant as if by magic, Col Heeley
decided to 90 down the other street
Our fire ladies made fine appear
ance, in their new, hot uniforms and
were not full during the parade, as
was stated by the Hickory Township
World
Every body seemed to feel an interest
in patriotism with the exception OF an
old party from distance who opened
the exercises by cutting large water
melon and stributing it with a lavish
hand among himself He then went to
sleep in the corner of fence, where
he would have been greatly pestered
/
time.
After pleasant and courteous prayer
by Rev. Mr. Meeks, in VIII Oh he laid
before the Lord a National policy
which he felt certain would make
great hit, our Glee Club sang
Oh say can you see, &c.
Judge Larraby read the Declaration of
Independence in rich, dark red voice,
and a self made man from Hickory
Township delivered the following i'm
promptu address, the manuscript of
which he kindly furnished to the Re
cord Statesman:
FELLOW CITIZENS: This is the an
niversary of the day when freedom to-
wards all and malice towards none first
got foothold in this country. And
we are now 10 celebrate that day.
say that on that day Tireny and uzur-
patton got setback that they will
never recover from. We then paved
the way for the poor, oppressed
foreigner so that he could come 10 our
shores and take liberties with our form
of government. To be foreigner
here in America to-day is one of the
sweetest boons. If | could be just
what | would like to be, would be an
oppressed foreigner, landing on our
shores, free from the taxation and re-
sponsibilitv of government with no
social demands made on me, with moth
ing in my possession but hearty God
speed from both political parties and a
strong yearning for freedom. Oh, why
was | not born an alien, that both par
ties wouldn't dast to reproach; an alien
that can come here and find govern
ment already established. with no flies
on it; agovernment of the people. by
the people and for the people? Fire
crackers and applause)
''One day that Button Gwinnett put
his name to the statement that all men
was created more or less equal, the spot
on which we now stand was bowling
wilderness. Where yonder lemonade
stand now stands and realizes a clean
profit OF $40, 80 on an investment Of
So so, the rank thistle nodded in the
wynd and the wild fox dag his hole I'M
scared If you do not belive this re-
fer you to the principal of our public
school. who is to-day assisting in the
band and who is now in the act of up
ending his alto horn TO pour out about
a tea cupful of liquid melody that he
had left over from the last tune.
"And why this? Why are we to-day
free people. with a surplus in the
Treasury that nobody can get atp
cloud applause and squeal from a
grass-fed horse tied to tree who is
being kicked by two-year-old owned
by the Pathmaster of Road District Mop
81
"Why are our resources so great
that they almost equal our liabilities?
VLv &. n-oyytb;ncx I1na 20 10 -